Electric fitting



G. B. THOMAS. ELECTRIC FITTING. APPLICATION FILED 050.4, 1918.

Patented Sept. 27, 19 21.

. GL-aRmE Z. 7710M: $1 6110mm 7 20. plug.

' UNITED STATES- JPATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. THOMAS, OI BRIDGEPORT, C

NEOTICUT.

ONNEGTIGUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT nnnomro srrrme.

} Specification of Letters Patent. -Pa,tented Sept, 2'7, 1921.

Application filed December 4, 1918. Serial No. 265,254.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon B. THOMAS, a

citizen of the United States of America residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Electric Fittings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric fittings and particularly to a fitting of the type comprising a combined electric lamp socket and attachment plug receptacle. The special object of my invention is to provide a receptacle unit adapted to be combined with the elements of a standard socket to supplement the latter and thus afford a com' ined fitting adapted not only toreceive a lamp but also to provide an independent receptacle to receive the jacks of an. attachment In the accompanyin drawings,

Figure 1 is a side e evation', partially in section, showing a combination fitting in which my invention is embodied in one form. i

Fig. 2 is a dropped perspective of the fit- I ting elements detached.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through, the plug receptacle element on the line 3-3 of Flg. 1. Fig.- 4 is a section on the line 44 Fig. 3.

In the embodiment of my invention here illustrated by we of example, I have shown a standard porce ain wall socket comprisin a base and body 11 which when unite form a lamp receptacle. The base is pierced at 12 and 13 to receive securing screws by means of which the fitting may be mounted on anysuitable support. Bosses 14 and 15 project from opposite sides of the base and support straps 16 and 17 carrying binding screws 18 and 19 for the leading-in wires. These straps are secured to the base by bolts 20 and'21 passing through the base. The inner end of strap 17 is tapped at 2 2 to receive a bolt 23 from the body 11. A tapped ferrule 24 is secured to the base 10 and reoeives the threaded end of the bolt 25 carried by the body 11. The inner end of strap 16 is ofitset to afl'ord a spring terminal 26 arranged in position to 006 erate in assembled condition with the sprmgterminal 27, carried by the socket body 11. An annular flange 28 on the base centers the adjacent end center contacts socket body,

of the body 11 with relation to the base, while a lug 9 projecting inward from the flange engages a notch 30 in the lower face of the body 11 and insures the registry of the screw bolt 25 with the ta 22 in the strap 17 and the engagement 0 the terminals 26 and 27. The socket body 11 carries, in the form shown, a switch mechanism operated by a thumb piece 31 to accommodate which a recess 32 is formed in the periphery of the base,10. The connections tothe shell and- (not shown) of the body 11 are made, on the-one hand through the screw bolt 23 to the shell, and. on the other hand through, the switch mechanism to the center contact, in well known manner. The screw bolt 25 which engages the ferrule 24 serves merely as a holdlng screw.

.In the present construction the lamp "socketis supplemented by an attachment larly relates. In the form here shown, this receptacle comprises an insulating button 33 having a marginal rabbet 34 to fit within the flange 28 of the base 10 and a notch 35 (Fig. 4) to fit theboss 29 to properly position the parts with relation to the cooperating elements on the base; while an annular flange 36 and boss 37 on the opposite face of the button center and properly locate the cooperating elements on -the juxtaposed face of the socket body 11. The button is recessed on the face thereof adjacent to the to afford a pair of insulating chambers 38 and 39 within which are located straps 40 and 41 which serve as conducting connection between the straps 16 and 17 on the base 10 and the cooperating elements on the body 11. As here shown, the strap 40 is offset at its lower end and held in positionby a tubular rivet 42 through which passes a bolt '43 taking into the tap 22 in the strap 17 and thus mechanically and electrically connecting these elements. The upperend of the strap 40 is oifet to form a terminal 44 adapted to be engaged by the spring terminal 27 of the socket bo y in the assembled position of the parts. In the manner at its oifset lower end by the tubular 'ceptacle element thatthe invention particurivet 45 which also holds against the lower V face of the button a brush 46 adapted to make contact with the terminal 26 on the base. A bolt 47 passing through the rivet 45 engages the tapped ferrule 24 in the base 10 and thus not only aids in holding the button in position but in forcing the terminals 46 and 26 into good electrical connection. At its upper end, the strap 41 is offset and tapped at 48 to receive the screw bolt 23 on the socket body 11, which thereby electrically connects the strap 16 on the base with the screw shell contact (not shown) on the socket body. A strap 49, let into the upper face of the button and held by a bolt 50, is tapped at 51 to receive the screw bolt 25 of the socket body 11 which assists in mechanically securing the latter in assembled position.

The button 33 is also provided with a mar inal nose 52 through which open indepen ent passages 53 and 54 leading res ectively to the chambers 39 and 38. nto these passages project receptacle terminals 55 and 56, here shown in the form'of brushes respectlvely connected at their inner ends to the straps 40 and 41. The passages 53 and 54 are properly spaced to receive the jacks of a co'operating attachment plug, which enter these passages and make contact with the brushes 55 and 56 in a manner readily understood by those skilled in the art. In the present construction the nose 52 of the button 33 is so located that it re isters with the recess 32 in the base, which thus affords clearance for the usual head of the cap carrying the plug jacks.

' While I have shown my invention in a fitting comprising a socket of the switch type in which a thumb piece 31 is utilized to operate the switch, a socket body of any other type may be substituted therefor provided it has the necessary cooperating conductors. Various modifications in details of construction of the button 33 to adapt it to socket bases for lamp bodies of different type, will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from what I claim in my invention.

I claim: 1. An electric fitting having independent insulating blocks, wire terminals carried by one of said blocks, lamp terminals carried by gether the other of said blocks, and means for mechanically securing said blocks together and for establishing electric connection between the respective wire and lamp terminals thereon to form a complete, selfcontained lamp socket, in combination with an insulating button adapted to be interposed between said base and socket body and having conductors cotiperatin with the conductors thereof towit receptacle contacts electrically connected to said conductors and marginal passage means opening to said receptacle contacts and adapted to form guide means for the cooperating contacts of an attachment plug.

2. An electric fitting having independent insulating blocks, wire terminals carried by one of said blocks, lamp terminals carried by the other of said blocks, and means for mechanically securin' said blocks together and for establishing e ectric connection between the respective wire and lam terminals thereon to form a complete, se fcontained lamp socket, an interposed insulating button, conductors on said button establishing electrical connection between coiiperating conductors on said base and lamp bod together with receptacle terminals carrie by said body and accessible through the margin of the plug to the contacts of a cotiperating plug.

3. A plug receptacle com using a button having on its opposite aces, terminals adapted to connect with cotiperating conductors on associated elements of an independent self contained electrical fitting together with receptacle terminals electrically connected in the fitting circuit and accessible through the margin of the button to the contacts of a cooperating plug.

4. In an attachment plug receptacle an insulating button recessed from one face to afford independent chambers, conductors mounted on said button and passing through said chambers to the opposite faces of the button together with receptacle terminals projecting from said conductors and accessible through the margin of the button for the purpose described.

5. In an attachment plug receptacle an insulating button recessed from one face to afford independent chambers, conductors mounted on said button and passing throu h said chambers to the opposite faces of the button together with receptacle terminals projecting from said conductors and' accessible through independent assages in the margin of the button for t e purpose described.

6. In an attachment plu receptacle, an insulating button margina ly recessed to house plug receptacle terminals, terminal contacts arranged in said housing, conductors associated with said terminal contacts and mounted on said button, means establishing electrical connection between said conductors and conductors on an associated wire terminal block facing one side of said button, and independent means to establish electrical connection between said terminals and conductors on an associated lamp receptacle block facing the opposite side of said button.

7. An electrical fitting comprising an insulating block, combined wire terminal and connecting straps mounted thereon, an associated insulating block, lam terminals mounted thereon, and means or mechanically connecting said blocks and establishing electrical connection between said lamp terminals and the connecting straps on the wlre terminal block in combination with an insu-- lating button adapted to be interposed between said blocks, plug receptacle terminals mounted on said button, means for electrically connecting the same with the wire terminal straps on one of said blocks, and means for establishing connection therethrough to the lamp terminals on the other of said 10 blocks. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE B. THOMAS. 

